A New Contest

Find out how you can win a free portrait from your photo! Many ways to enter! Follow this blog and comment on one of my posts...and go to the Housework Haters Club to find several more ways to enter!

Thank you!!!!

Our Need For Beauty

Sitting at home one Sunday afternoon with my husband and son, I suddenly realized what kind of day it was turning out to be. We were all cranky and stressed. Nothing seemed right. I was boiling on the inside...stressing of budgets, the cleanliness of the house, the dog chewing up everything in sight...it was all too much for me.

We decided at a moment's notice to go to the Smokey Mountains...about a 40 minute drive for us. After arriving we drove around the 11 mile loop of Cades Cove. It was a gorgeous day. The temperature was perfect...not too hot and not too cool. We rolled down the windows and had our trigger-finger on the camera at all times!

Why did we do this? Why did we suddenly feel stress roll off of us as if we were the richest, cleanest, dogless people in the world? This is my theory...WE NEED BEAUTY. God loves beautiful things and made us to love it as well. Why else would he stress that we think about beautiful things? Philippians 4:8 says "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Our creator made us to desire lovely things. He wants us to think about them. I don't think that we are suppose to ignore the unlovely things in life, but we aren't suppose to dwell on them long and hard either. Why? We just weren't created to. The cares of life should be rolled over into His more-than capable hands...and we are just to think about things that are honest, pure and lovely...in other words, TRUST HIM. 

God created such a beautiful earth...every part of the world has it's beauty and how many times have you heard someone say, "This looks like a painting", when they see lovely scenery? I've often wondered, and have heard others ask, what is art good for? Most of it is not useful, not needed for anything...yet people...many people...love art. I know that I have been known to swoon over a beautiful landscape or still life in my time. Why? Because beauty relieves stress and gives us joy. And, I truly believe it gives God joy too. Enjoy what you see and think about it. Dwell on it and most of all be thankful for it. Take a drive and notice a beautiful tree, or landscape. Or go to an art gallery and stare at beauty. We need it...at least I do. So next time you get overwhelmed by daily stresses just try saying, "Renoir, take me away!"

09-09-09 Twitterthon

Please check out the 09-09-09 Twitterthon happening TODAY...a wonderful cause to help stop child trafficking. There are great give-a-ways to anyone chipping in $9 or more!

Here is what's happening there now:

All funds go to The Born2Fly Project to stop child trafficking. Watch this space for updates all day long including prize give-aways and winners. Remember the total on the Chip-in button at the top right does not include donations made by check. I'll update the total throughout the day. All update times are EDT (US).

My Story - How I Became an Artist

How God Made ART Blossom Out of a Dry Flower Pot:

I grew up in a family of four children. My twin brother and I were the oldest...then came two more brothers. Yes...I was sister-less. But that was okay. I held my own with my brothers and I had a pretty happy tom-boyish childhood.

While growing up I never considered myself artistic...never even imagined I could be. I enjoyed art class in school, but no one ever mentioned any particular talent. As a matter of fact, my entire self-esteem was not what you would call "great". All that changed when I met my husband. He was the most encouraging person I'd ever met. He would compliment everything I did and would tell me that he saw something in me, a potential. He saw that I had something inside that wanted to emerge. Neither he or I knew what that could be...and I wouldn't find out until my mid-30's that I was destined to be an artist!

It all started so subtly. I had been working in my church in Longwood, Florida. The pastor at that church, and his wife, are both very talented artists. He wanted the church bulletins to be original, not those ready made kind you buy at the bookstore. So I learned a computer drawing program and started designing them. I had such great feedback from people who were telling me that the bulletins were so special to them. Some even told me that they were framing them.

Then the craziest thing happened...my pastor started telling me that I was an artist...Huh?...I laughed it off, embarrassed that he would think I was an artist. But, he continued to call me one. With all that encouragement from my husband, people at the church and my pastor I even started believing it...(God bless you, Pastor Greg Freeman!!!)

A few years later my husband and I had been married for 12 years and had adopted a baby two years earlier. We felt called to work as house parents at a childrens home in Okeechobee, Florida, and ran one of the homes (with 6 girls). It was the most challenging time of our lives to date. But I have found that the most challenging and difficult times causes things inside of us, either good or bad, to bubble up to the surface. One day, while standing out by the water with one of the girls in our home,  I commented that I wish I could draw or paint what I was seeing because the scenery was really beautiful. She turned to me and simply said, "Why don't you?" I answered her the way most people answer something like that..."I can't even draw stick figures!" But her simple answer sparked something in my head. I started thinking about Pastor Greg calling me an artist so I went inside, sat down at the kitchen table and started drawing something. It wasn't great, but I was pleasantly surprised at how bad is wasn't. So, I drew something again the next day and the next...and the next. I found that I couldn't stop. I bought books, I went to classes, and drew everything I saw.

I started seeing the entire world differently. A tree wasn't just a tree...it was a beautiful object of shapes, highlights and shadows. At that point nothing was safe from my pencil! I drew everything and carried my sketchbook everywhere I went! In time I found that my strength was portraits. I loved drawing faces, people, dogs, cats, cows...you name it!  Now I draw portraits from photos by commission and I absolutely love it!

A few months ago I was laid off from my 8-5 job. It's been a strain on us financially, but I have also seen it as a blessing from the Lord. I am giving it a go and doing what I love most...drawing. I've started drawing commissions full time. (And marketing myself). I don't believe that God allows a talent to emerge from nothing for no reason. I've spent the last 8 or 9 years practicing, practicing, practicing and have gotten better every year. I have so much more in me and I'm excited about what's coming next. Even if I don't know what that is!
But one thing I have learned is that God can make a blossom grow from a dry pot...like me...He's got some more planting and growing to do in me...and I am ready! 

Thank you for reading this blog. I'm still very new at it, and I'm not really a writer...hmmm...maybe I shouldn't say that either...you never know!!!!

Melinda

The "Un-Art Festival"

Hi! I thought I would drop you a few notes and pics about the "arts and crafts" festival I attended this past weekend. I call it the "Un-Art festival" because that's not really what it was. There were some arts and crafts vendors there...but there was also bluegrass music, antique car competitions, an antique appraiser, a mechanical bull and other interesting non-artsy things.

This was my very first booth at any event. The other arts and crafts vendors were so nice. I loved meeting them and learning from them. But none of us, new or seasoned veterans, sold a thing! It was quite disappointing, but I learned alot, got to know some great people, and had a real adventure. So, I wouldn't have changed anything! (Well, maybe the no selling part)...

Here are a few pictures of my first booth...I would love any helpful hints, advice, or constructive critism you may be able to share! Thanks!